Dalat has had a long tradition of playing baseball and softball dating back to when the school was in Dalat, Vietnam.  In 1975 our U15 Boys managed to win the MSSPP Penang State Softball competition. The 2007-2008 school year has witnessed the resurrection of Dalat’s softball program. Late last November, when the Dalat girls lost to the girls from Convent Datu Keramat 9-6 in a friendly game, it marked the first inter-scholastic softball game at Dalat in many years. 

Mark Sasse, a history teacher originally from the US, decided to revive the sport of softball enlisting help from some other dedicated teachers. Over the course of this school year, nearly 30 girls and nearly 30 boys from both high school and middle school have participated in the revival program which culminated in participation in Penang Island’s MSSPP tournament in March 2008. MSSPP is short for Majlis Sukan Sekolah-Sekolah Pulau Pinang which is essentially Penang’s Zone & State playoffs. Both U15 & U18 girls, as well as U18 boys will be seeing MSSPP action during the month of March. This year Mark is joined by 2 fellow Americans: Bob Davis & Dennis Tyas; along with a couple Canadians: Shauna Archer & Patrick Rogers.

 On Saturday mornings, nearly 20 players have been showing up for Dalat’s Saturday co-ed intra-squad league games.  In addition to the softball teams, over 25 elementary students have participated in the elementary baseball club which has spanned both semesters.   That means nearly 25% of all Dalat students have participated in one of this year’s teams or clubs!  With this type of interest, the future looks bright!

There are very few actual ball diamonds here in Malaysia; This does not stop the avid ball fan however & Mark, accompanied by various coaches & volunteer helpers, fashioned a “diamond” or baseball “pitch” to Malaysians, on the “upper field” we borrow for sports. Some green mesh netting & some replenished equipment later, voila, we have the sport of softball/baseball re-instated at Dalat. Of course much work goes into reviving and re-implementing any kind of a sport but especially noteworthy when there is actually no existing regulation playing field!

Teams meet Monday through Thursday right after school, alternating days for boys & girls. Many days Mark also holds pitching practice at the same time as regular practice so there is much movement all over campus.